Ladder



Nov. 21, 1933. A HANLY AL 1,936,508

LADDER Filed Sept. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gear 0 A.%rzly, A266 JED-M25961;

INVENTORS ATTOR N EY Nov. 21, 1933. G, A. HANLY AL 1,936,508

LADDER Filed Sept. 28, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6207 a/ilh dazw' zlnmig zw,

INVENTORS H BY aaayzmw Patented Nov. 21, 1933 LADDER George A. Hanly and Albert M. D. M'eugeler,

Elgin, Ill.

Application September 28, 1932 Serial No. 635,290

2 Claims.

The invention relates to ladders and more especially to extensible or foldable ladders.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a ladder of this construction, wherein the same is formed in several sections, these being swingingly connected so that the ladder can be folded or extended and when in extended position will be latched against folding movement in a novel manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ladder of this character, wherein the latch operates to hold the ladder fast when extended and also when the same has been folded for the use thereof as a stepladder, the ladder being supplemented by a shelf which is useful as a rest for pails, buckets or other like articles as ordinarily used when cleaning windows, collecting fruit and otherwise.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a ladder of this character which is extremely simple in construction, readily and easily extended or folded, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in its purpose, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ladder constructed in accordance with the invention, the same being folded for its use as a stepladder.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ladder ex tended for the full length use thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevation.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional View showing the latch, the full line representation being in latching position and the dotted line representation in released position.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one hinge part for the ladder.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the other hinge part.

Figure 9 is a detail elevational View of the method adopted of bracing the permanent hinge elements.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings. a

Referring to the drawings in detail, the ladder comprises upper and lower sections A and B respectively, the upper section being formed with opposite side rails or pieces 10 having fitted therein cross rungs 11', these being equidistanced $0 from each other throughout the length of the rails or'side pieces of said section A and such rungs are secured within the said rails or pieces in any desirable manner.

The section B includes the side rails or pieces 1.2 having arranged therebetween steps 13 which are secured to the rails or pieces 12 in any desirable manner and immediately beneath the respective steps are cross brace rods 14 which give strength and rigidity to the section B and also prevents the sagging of the steps when burdened with Weight in the use of the ladder.

The sections A and B are swingingly connected togetherby the use of hinge parts 15 and 16 respectively, these being companions at opposite longitudinal edges of the side rails or pieces 10 and 12 of the sections A and B respectively. The parts 15 and 16 at their outer ends are formed with inturned lips 17 which are countersunk in the said rails or pieces 10 and 12 while suitable fasteners are passed through such parts and secured in the rails or pieces to permanently and securely mount the hinge parts upon the sections of the ladder.

The parts 15 are formed each with a single pivot eye 18 while the parts 16 each is formed with double pivot eyes 19 to accommodate therebetween the single pintle eye 18. The hinge parts 15 and 16 at one side of the ladder or the sections A and B thereof are joined through the medium of a pintle rod 20 which is engaged permanently V in the eyes 18 and 19 when interfltted for their alignment with each other of such parts and in this fashion the section A will be swingingly connected with the section B of the ladder. The parts 15 and 15 at the other side of the ladder or the sections A and B thereof are separable from each other and engageable with the eyes 18 and 19 of said parts are latching pins 21, each being carried by a leaf spring 22 riveted or otherwise secured at 23 to the side rail or piece 12 of the section B adjacent thereto, thus when the section A is swung to align with the section B the pins 21 will engage in the eyes 18 and 19 of said hinge parts and thus in this manner such sections will be latched in their aligned relation for the converting of the ladder into a full extension ladder.

The rivets or fasteners 23 for the leaf springs 22 constitute pivots therefor so that when the ladder is folded to effect a stepladder as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings the latch pins 21 will engage each in a suitable socket in the side piece or rail of the section B so that the folded condition of the ladder may be maintained for its use as an ordinary stepladder.

Located next to the uppermost step 13 of the section B and carried by the brace rod 14 next thereto is a pair of spaced swinging arms 25 having swingingly connected thereto a shelf 26 which is foldable beneathsaid step and in this position will be retained by a spring latch 27. On the folding of the ladder for its use as a stepladder the shelf 26 can be released from the latch 27 manually and the same pulled upon so that it may be brought into position to come at rest upon the rung ll of the section A next to the hinge connection of said section with the section B so that the shelf can be used to support articles. The shelf has fitted to its underside a pair of spaced cleats 28 accommodating therebetween the rung 11 constituting the rest bearing for said shelf 26, this arrangement being clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. 7 When the ladder is extended by arranging the sections A and B in alignment with each other the shelf 26 is folded to assume the position as shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings and in this position will be engaged by the latch 27 for the retention thereof in its folded condition. The leaf springs 22 carrying the latch pins 21 function as braces when the ladder is folded for use-as a stepladder in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The parts 16 of the permanent hinge have formed therebetween a connecting strap 29 which functions to brace and make the ladder rigid, thereby increasing the strength of the same.

The leaf springs 22 constitute hinged sections associated with sections 30, these pivoted at 31 to the leaf springs 22 so as to effect break joints therebetween, the leaf springs 22 being formed with stop lugs 32 received in notches 33 in the sections 30 and in this manner these springs 22 and sections 31 make up hinged spread and lock arms so that the ladder may be folded without the necessity of disengaging the latching pins 21 from the sockets 22 in the side pieces or rails of the section A.

What is claimed is:

1. An extension ladder comprising complementai sections, each section including side rails, steps between the side rails of one section, cross rungsbetween the rails of the other section, hinge parts fixed to the side rails of the respective sections at opposite edges thereof, the parts at the edges of the side rails of the sections at one side thereof being permanently pivoted together, latching means for separably connecting the hinge parts at the other edges of the rails of the sections and located at opposite sides thereof for permitting the said sections to be brought into longitudinal alignment with each other, and break joints in said latching means to permit the folding of the sections when said latching means is engaged for the spreading of the ladder sections.

2. An extension ladder comprising complemental sections, hinges connecting the meeting ends of said sections, the hinges at one side of the '1- ladder being permanently connected, the hinges at the other side of the ladder being separably connected, and hinged spread and lock arms pivotally connected with one section and detach ably engageable with the other section for separably connecting said separable hinges.

GEORGE A. HANLY. ALBERT M. D. MENGELER. 

